Looking for practical Zapotec to Lingala phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Zapotec phrase first, then the Lingala translation (Lingala) — so you can scan quickly before a trip, class, or video call.
The phrases are grouped into eight topics: greetings and pleasantries, useful phrases for travellers, everyday conversation, directions and getting around, shopping and dining, emergencies and health, work and business, and time, days and numbers. Use the table of contents to jump straight to greetings, directions, dining, emergencies, or numbers. You do not need perfect grammar to start — short, clear sentences often work better than silence when you are learning Lingala.
Tip: focus on one section per day (travel Monday, dining Tuesday, and so on) if you are preparing for a Lingala-speaking trip in a few weeks.
Bookmark this page for offline review, share it with a travel buddy, or open the Zapotec to Lingala translator to paste your own messages and get an instant translation.
Greetings and pleasantries
Hello, goodbye, please, thank you, and polite introductions for meeting new people.
Díí
Mbote(di'i)
Güi
Melesi(güi)
Bëëna
Mbote na ntango ya mokolo(bëëna)
Bëëna xhí
Mbote na ntango ya midi(bëëna xhi)
Bëëna xhí
Mbote na ntango ya soir(bëëna xhi)
Bëëna dzaa
Malamu na butu(bëëna dzaa)
Dáa xhí
Tala yo nsima(daa xhi)
Díí xhí
Kende malamu(di'i xhi)
¿Náá xhí nè?
Nkombo na yo nani?(naa xhi ne)
Náá nè John
Nkombo na ngai ezali John(naa ne John)
¿Náá xhí?
Ozalaki malamu?(naa xhi)
Náá nè xhí
Nayoki malamu na yo(naa ne xhi)
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
¿Ndi xquidxi inglés?
Ozali koloba lingala?(ozali koloba lingala)
Ndi xquidxi hindi nisa
Nasalaka hindi malamu te(nasalaka hindi malamu te)